Method for counting the number of articles using a weighing machine

Abstract

A method for counting the number of articles or goods of the same kind using a weighing machine which comprises a step of measuring an average or mean weight of sample articles, a step of measuring a weight of all articles to be counted and a step of calculating the number of the all articles by dividing the measured weight by the mean weight. Said step of measuring the mean weight includes a step of measuring a temporary mean weight a 1 of a known small number of articles P 1 , a step of adding any unknown number of articles P 2 , a step of measuring a weight W 1 of these articles P 1 plus P 2 , a step of calculating the number N 1 of the articles by rounding off a quotient obtained by dividing the weight W 1 by the temporary mean weight a 1 and a step of calculating a standard mean weight a 2 by dividing said measured weight W 1 by said calculated number N 1 .

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for counting the number of articles of the same kind with using a weighing machine comprising successively a step of measuring a temporary mean weight of a known small number of articles;   a step of adding to said small number of articles any unknown number of articles;   a step of measuring a weight of these articles;   a step of calculating the number of the articles by rounding off a quotient which is obtained by dividing said measured weight by said temporary mean weight;   a step of calculating a standard mean weight by dividing said measured weight by said calculated number;   a step of measuring a weight of all articles to be counted; and   a step of calculating the total number of said all articles by rounding off a quotient which is obtained by dividing said measured weight of said all articles by said standard mean weight.   
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises after the step of calculating the standard mean weight a step of adding any unknown number of articles, a step of measuring a weight of the articles, a step of calculating the number of the articles by rounding off a quotient which is obtained by dividing the measured weight by the standard mean weight, and a step of calculating a new standard weight by dividing the measured weight by the calculated number of the articles. 
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 1, wherein a warning is generated when a fraction of a quotient which is obtained by dividing the measured weight by one of the temporary mean weight and the standard mean weight is larger than or equal to 0.4 and smaller than 0.6. 
     
     
       4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the temporary mean weight and the standard mean weight are calculated from the weights of the sample articles measured by a first weighing machine of a small capacity and the total number of the articles to be counted is calculated from the weight of the articles measured by a second weighing machine of a large capacity.